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Speeches Shim
Today, Administrator Power spoke with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Pekka Haavisto, to discuss shared concerns about the increasing humanitarian needs following the Kremlin’s continued unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.
Today, Administrator Power met with members of the Bosnian American diaspora community to discuss the United States’ continued commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and efforts to engage diaspora communities in strengthening democracy, governance, and economic development throughout the country.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing $100,000 in assistance to meet urgent humanitarian needs following Tropical Cyclone Emnati in Madagascar. The storm generated high winds, torrential rains, and flooding that resulted in widespread damage to housing, crops, and public infrastructure across several regions, affecting nearly 170,000 people. This is the fourth major storm to hit the island in recent weeks, further exacerbating humanitarian needs across Malagasy communities still recovering from the devastating impacts of Cyclone Batsirai in early February.
Today, Administrator Power spoke with International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Secretary General Jagan Chapagain to discuss the current state of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and neighboring countries following Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war on Ukraine.
On March 5-12, Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman will travel to Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan. During her trip, she will meet with government officials and USAID partners and staff whose work and support are critical to USAID’s efforts in the region.
Today, Administrator Samantha Power held a virtual meeting with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan to share that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide a surge of COVID-19 resources to Tanzania through the U.S. Government’s Initiative for Global Vaccine Access (Global VAX). Announced in December 2021, Global VAX is a whole-of-government effort around the world to turn vaccines in vials into vaccinations in arms.
Today, Administrator Samantha Power spoke with United Arab Emirates Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy ahead of the United Nations General Assembly vote to condemn Russia for the violence in Ukraine and demand an immediate withdrawal.
Today, Administrator Power met with Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova to express the U.S. Government’s solidarity with Ukraine, to discuss Power’s recent travel to Poland and Brussels, and to explore various plans for expanding humanitarian assistance into Ukraine.
Today, Administrator Samantha Power spoke with Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe. The Administrator stressed the urgency of the international community standing together against Russia’s unprovoked and premeditated violence against Ukraine.
On Thursday, March 3, 2022, Administrator Power will join the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and the Reanimation Package of Reforms Coalition to discuss the U.S. government’s efforts, in coordination with European allies and international partners, to address humanitarian challenges and protect human rights in Ukraine. Administrator Power will open with a conversation with GMF president Heather Conley, which will be followed by a discussion with leading civil society experts from Ukraine and USAID’s Ukraine Mission Director James Hope.
Today, Administrator Power and her delegation, which included senior leadership of the Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration, met in Brussels, Belgium, with senior European Union (EU) officials and representatives of EU member states to discuss coordinated efforts to respond to the humanitarian crisis resulting from Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.
Today, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman met with UN Women’s Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous. Deputy Administrator Coleman congratulated Ms. Bahous on her recent appointment as Executive Director, and they recommitted to the shared priority of empowering women and girls globally.
Yesterday in Poland, Administrator Power met with Major General Chris Donahue and members of the 82nd Airborne Division, who briefed the Administrator and members of her delegation, including senior leadership of the Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration, on the situation in Ukraine. Russian military strikes have hit civilian facilities and critical non-military infrastructure, including at least one hospital, an orphanage, and multiple kindergartens. As the conflict intensifies, especially in urban areas, civilians will bear the brunt and continue to seek safety in Poland and other neighboring countries.
Today, the global scientific community issued another stark warning for humanity. The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that the climate crisis threatens every aspect of human life and demonstrates the urgent need to expand our ability to adapt.
Well, I think Russia’s actions in recent days and in recent months as they built up to this invasion and the kind of fake diplomacy that was carried out by Russian officials over a long period of time as they planned to invade their neighbor, would give one grounds for pessimism. But on the other hand, there is nothing more important than diplomacy during a conflict. We see the human stakes—I saw the human stakes today in talking to those same Ukrainian refugees you just heard from coming across the border. And if this conflict continues it’s only going to get worse.
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of State, is providing nearly $54 million in additional humanitarian assistance to Ukraine following Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified further invasion of Ukraine, which is expected to trigger increased needs.
Today in Poland, Administrator Power met with Witold Dzielski, Advisor to the President of Poland, to discuss joint efforts to respond to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. Administrator Power emphasized the partnership between the United States and Poland in meeting the needs of the increasing flow of Ukrainians across the border.
Today, Administrator Power met with members of the Ukrainian American Community to convey the United States’ continued commitment to the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression and violence, and to hear from them directly about their concerns and ways to collaborate to assist Ukranians in need.
Administrator Samantha Power will travel to Poland and Belgium on February 26-28 to discuss the U.S. government’s coordinated response with allies and partners to respond to Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. Sarah Charles, USAID Assistant to the Administrator for the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, and Nancy Izzo Jackson, Senior Bureau Official for the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, which leads the U.S. refugee response, will also join the trip.
USAID welcomes the announcement by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) that it is expanding authorizations for commercial and financial transactions in Afghanistan, including with its governing institutions. The issuance of General License (GL) 20 aims to ensure that U.S. sanctions do not prevent or inhibit the transactions and activities needed to support the basic human needs of the people of Afghanistan, and underscores the United States’ commitment to working with the private sector, international partners and allies, and international organizations to support the people of Afghanistan.
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Last updated: July 11, 2024
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